A 9-day wilderness experience in Southern Chile and the Patagonia Ice Field. Visit the San Rafael Glacier, Puerto Eden, Madre de Dios Island, the Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego, and the Beagle Channel.
South America
Patagonia & Chilean Fjords: From Puerto Montt to Ushuaia
9 Days aboard Magellan Explorer. Contact for pricing.
Small Ship Expeditions
Details
Overview
Itinerary Highlights
- We visit the seaport and explore the area, with its many fjords, islands, and channels
- We cross the Gulf of Penas, enjoying beautiful views of the surrounding mountain ranges
- You may also see dolphins, sea lions, seals, penguins, albatrosses, and petrels
Itinerary in Brief
- Day 1: Puerto Montt, Embarkation
- Day 2: Puyuhuapi Channel
- Days 3: San Rafael National Park
- Day 4: Day at Sea, Gulf of Penas
- Day 5: Caleta Tortel and Messier Channel
- Day 6: Bernardo O’Higgins National Park
- Day 7: Day at Sea, Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego
- Day 8: Beagle Channel & Garibaldi Fjord
- Day 9: Ushuaia Argentina, Disembarkation
Ship Information
For more information on the Magellan Explorer please view the ship page.
View Magellan ExplorerTravelling with Eclipse
Peace of Mind
- Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
- 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
- We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
- No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
- Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
- Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
- We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
- Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
- Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
- Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
- Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.
Day 1: Puerto Montt, Embarkation
Your journey begins in Puerto Montt, Chile, with boarding between 15:00 and 16:00 hrs. After all mandatory briefings, the ship sets sail towards the Gulf of Corcovado.
Day 2: Puyuhuapi Channel
We continue south to visit the area around Puerto Aysen and Puyuhuapi in the Aysén region. As we cruise and explore the area, we see the landscape unfold with its many fjords, islands, and channels. We hope to visit either Puerto Cisnes, Puyuhuapi, or Magdalena Island, with the possibility to see dolphins, whales, cormorants, sea lions, and river otters.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Days 3: San Rafael National Park
Today, the ship reaches the Chonos Archipelago. Heading towards the Moraleda Channel, the vessel cruises around the area of San Rafael National Park, a biosphere reserve, if weather permits. The park is the main entry point to Chile's Northern Patagonian Ice Field. We will also explore the surrounding fjords, channels, islands, and coves.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 4: Day at Sea, Gulf of Penas
As we sail south, we cross the Gulf of Penas, enjoying beautiful views of the surrounding mountain ranges. The expedition team tells us about the indigenous inhabitants of these southern lands, the early Spanish colonizers, and famous explorers such as Charles Darwin, Fitz Roy, and Alberto de Agostini. We also learn about the region's biodiversity through presentations about the local marine fauna and flora.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 5: Caleta Tortel and Messier Channel
If weather permits, a visit to Caleta Tortel or the surrounding region is planned for the morning. Located between the mouth of the Baker River and a small cove within the Baker Channel, Caleta Tortel is a small village consisting mainly of stilt houses, typical of Chilotan architecture, built along the coast for several kilometers. Wooden walkways are built with Guaitecas cypress, they connect houses and give the village its distinctive look and unique culture. We continue sailing south towards Messier Channel and navigate through the dramatic 18-meter-wide (59 feet) English Narrows for a privileged view of the glaciers of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Outside Antarctica, some of the largest glaciers in the southern hemisphere are found here.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 6: Bernardo O’Higgins National Park
We embark on a Zodiac excursion to the Amalia Glacier area or the surrounding glaciers along the Peel Fjord in the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. We bask in the glacier’s icy-blue beauty and cruise across the sea and among its ice floes to uncover part of Chile's natural mystique. As we sail between snow-capped peaks to get a closer look at the glacier and its brilliant and rugged textures, we may spot dolphins swimming at a distance, cormorants or condors flying above, and otters.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 7: Day at Sea, Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego
While heading south along the Strait of Magellan, we explore the waters of the fjords that branch out from Tierra del Fuego. We follow the remote coast around the Francisco Coloane Marine Park, a protected area in the southern hemisphere where whales feed. If we are lucky, we may be able to spot humpback or sei whales breaching in the distance. We may also see dolphins, sea lions, seals, penguins, albatrosses, and petrels.
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 8: Beagle Channel & Garibaldi Fjord
The Beagle Channel is a striking narrow passage in the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego, a region originally named after the fires that burned in local native settlements when the first European explorers arrived. Dividing Chile and Argentina, the passage showcases ice formations along the snow-dusted Darwin Range. We will sail along Glacier Alley, home to the Holanda, Italia, Francia, Alemania, and Romanche glaciers, aiming to explore the Garibaldi Fjord
Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.
Day 9: Ushuaia Argentina, Disembarkation
Morning arrival in Ushuaia and disembarkation.
Breakfast included.
- Day 1: Puerto Montt, Embarkation
- Day 2: Puyuhuapi Channel
- Days 3: San Rafael National Park
- Day 4: Day at Sea, Gulf of Penas
- Day 5: Caleta Tortel and Messier Channel
- Day 6: Bernardo O’Higgins National Park
- Day 7: Day at Sea, Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego
- Day 8: Beagle Channel & Garibaldi Fjord
- Day 9: Ushuaia Argentina, Disembarkation
Please contact us for dates
Cabin Details
Triple Suite
Approx. Size: 480 ft2 – 44 m2
Details: Suite with two bedrooms, balcony, and sitting area
Porthole Cabin
Approx. Size: 200 ft2 – 18 m²
Details: Cabin with sitting area and porthole
Veranda Cabin
Approx. Size: 210 ft2 – 19 m2
Details: Cabin with sitting area and balcony
Deluxe Veranda Cabin
Approx. Size: 240 ft2 – 22 m2
Details: Cabin with sitting area and balcony
Penthouse Suite
Approx. Size: 360 ft2 – 33 m2
Details: Suite with sitting room, balcony, and bedroom area
Deluxe Suite
Approx. Size: 480 ft2 – 44 m2
Details: Two-room suite with sitting room, balcony, and bedroom
Single Veranda Cabin
Approx. Size: 210 ft2 – 19 m2
Details: Cabin with sitting area and balcony
Magellan Explorer Deckplan
Specifications
- Passengers: 100 max
- Lifeboats: 2, fully enclosed, capacity of 160 (in addition to 8 life rafts, capacity of 160)
- Breadth: 16.2 m
- Propulsion: Diesel engines, 3,440 kW
- Cruising speed: 14 knots in open water
- Staff & crew: 60
- Length: 90.7 m
- Draft: 4.3
- Ice class: LR PC6
What's included?
- Comprehensive pre- and post-voyage information material.
- Special access to Explorers House for guests in Punta Arenas.
- Ship cruise as indicated in the itinerary corresponding to each expedition.
- Daily buffet breakfast, à la carte lunch and dinner, as well as wine, beer, juice, soft drinks, coffee, tea, chocolate, cappuccino, water, and snacks on board the ship.
- Loan of waterproof boots for landings, landing fees, contingency plan, and IAATO passenger fee.
- All guided shore excursions, as well as lectures and entertainment on board.
What's not?
- Flights, accommodation, meals, excursions, and transfers other than those included in the itinerary corresponding to each voyage.
- Beverages purchased at the ship’s bar.
- Personal travel insurance.
- Extra expenses (communication, laundry, souvenirs, etc.).
- Gratuities.
- Visas for Chile, Argentina, the UK and/or other destinations included in your itinerary, passport expenses, and any arrival and/or departure tax, if applicable.
Important notes and additional information
**This itinerary is also available in reverse beginning in Ushuaia and ending in Puerto Montt.
Note: the itinerary presented above is for reference. As for any expedition cruise, our route will be subject to weather conditions and the requirements of the Chilean authorities.
Optional Activities - 2025-26 Season:
- Sea Kayaking: US$895 per person
Sea Kayaking in Antarctica and Patagonia. We recommend booking the Sea Kayaking program upon reservation of your sea voyage.
Price Assurance
At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.
Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.
Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.
Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!
Destination: South America
The vivid sights and sounds of South America offer something for everyone. Stretching from the Caribbean to Patagonia, the variety of cultures, climates and landscapes has to be experienced firsthand to be believed. The memories you take home will leave you wanting more – we’re sure you’ll want to return again and again, just like us!
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